Spool and container therefor



Dec. 19, 1933. w E H H 1,939,718

SPOOL AND CONTAINER THEREFOR Filed April 5, 1950 Patented Dec. 19.1933

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SPOOL AND CONTAINER THEREFOR Walter F. Muhlbach, Oak Park, Ill., assignor to The Kendall Company, Boston, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts This invention relates to improvements in spools and containers therefor and it consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a simple and eflicient, protective container or receptacle for an article of commerce such as a spool of adhesive tape, into and from which container and associated spool may be quickly and easily inserted and ejected from either end thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a coverless container for a spool of this kind which container may be made from a large variety of materials such as paper, metal, fibre,

celluloid and the like, at a very low cost, and

is so formed as to securely hold the associated spool against rattling and accidental. displacement.

A further object of the invention is to provide a container of this kind which is formed at each of its open ends with a yielding annular rib or shoulder to be engaged by the outer rounded surface of the peripheral bead on the associated spool end to hold the spool for easy removal when desired.

Still further objects of the invention are to provide a container of this kind which though light in weight is strong and rigid and is therefore not easily dented and at the same time tightly surrounds the spool to exclude a free circulation of air therethrough as well as the entrance of foreign materials to the tape or other contents on the contained spool.

These objects of the invention as well as others together with the many advantages thereof, will more fully appear as I proceed with my specification.

In the drawing:--

Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal sectional view through one form of container embodying my invention, together with an associated spool of adhesive tape therein.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 with the spool removed therefrom.

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation of the spool of adhesive tape associated with and adapted to be received by the improved container.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of .one end of a further modified form of c ntainer embodying the invention.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view showing a still further modified form of container embodying the invention.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 illustrating another modified form of container embodying the invention.

In general the improved container of my invention comprises a tubular body of a length and inside diameter approximating that of the associated spool to be contained and the ends of the container body are formed to provide yielding annular ribs or shoulders. These ribs or shoulders are adapted for engagement with the outer portion of the peripheral beads on the spool ends or heads, whereby either shoulder may be sprung or expanded upon introduction of a spool end thereinto as when inserting a spool therein, which shoulder will thereafter contract to normal condition to engage the spool ends to removably retain the spool in place in the container.

Referring now in detail to that embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive of the accompanying drawing, 1 indicates as a whole the improved container or receptacle and 2 indicates as a whole the associated spool of adhesive tape it is adapted to receive, for the purpose of protecting the same.

The container comprises a tubular body 3 of any suitable material such as paper, fibre, celluloid or the like and said body is preferably of a circular cross section. As best shown in Fig. 2 each end of said body is turned inward and curved upon itself to form an interiorly disposed rib or bead 4-4 preferably of a circular cross section. Within the body I provide a liner 5, said liner engaging at each of its ends with the free margin of an associated curled bead 4. This liner not only acts to hold said margins of the beads against uncurling but it also strengthens and reinforces the body to a considerable extent against denting, puncturing and crushing forces.

The liner may be applied to the interior of the body either before or after the end beads are formed thereon and the beads are of a thickness greater than the combined thickness of the body and liner material so that said beads present opposed inwardly facing, annular shoulders 6-6 at each end of the container.

The container is adapted to receive an article of commerce in the nature of the spool of adhesive tape 2 before mentioned but in this respect it is apparent that other articles having end portions to coact with the end shoulders 6 of the body may also be received by said body. no Thus it is to be understood that said spool is to I will have a certain amount of resiliency therein.

Upon said body iswound the desired amount of adhesive tape 10 as best shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

The interior diameter of the ends of the container as defined by the ribs or beads 44 is slightly less than the exterior diameter of the spool ends as defined by the beads 9-9 thereon and the spool is of a length approximating the distance between said shoulders. Thus when inserting a spool into the container from either end, as the entering end of the spool engages the outer portion of one of the ribs or beads 4, said end of the container is somewhat expanded or sprung so that the spool and head slips past the same. When the head on the outer end of the spool approaches said container head it too, ex-

, pands or springs said container end to slip past the same. As before mentioned the container is so correlated with respect to the spool that the distance between the inwardly facing opposed shoulders 66 as defined by the beads 44 approximates the overall length of the spool. Thus when the spool has been inserted into the container as mentioned the outer surface of the spool end heads snap into engagement against said inner shoulders 66.

To remove the spool from the container, it is only necessary to impose an endwise pressure upon one end of the spool and the same will then snap past the bead in the opposite end of the container when it may be grasped for complete removal from the container.

In Fig. 4 is illustrated a slightly modified construction wherein the salient features of the provision of opposed, inwardly facing shoulders is still maintained, for engagement with the outer it engages the bead at the other end of the body,

it lodges upon the shoulder thereon. When the spool is in place in said container, it is apparent that the outer portion of the spool end heads engage againstinwardly facing shoulders on the body. To remove the spool, pressure is imposed upon one end and the bead on the other end of the spool will ride up the tapered shoulder on the container end to there expand the said body end to slip or snap past the bead thereon. In this respect it is pointed out that with the tapered shoulder, the possibility of the spool end bead catching on the container end bead with resulting tearing and damage to the container is eliminated.

In Fig. '5 I have illustrated another modified form of the invention wherein the bead 4 is provided with a plurality of arcuately spaced slits 4 which impart a greater resiliency to the ends of the container for the easier insertion and ejection of the spool into and from the container.

Thus when inserting a spool into a container having the ends made as described the bead first engaged by the spool end or head, springs or yields radially to permit the passage of the head therethrough and then snaps back to its original condition.

In Fig. 6 I have shown another form of container structure wherein the ends of the body of the container are not curled or flanged as before mentioned but are formed to provide end flanges 4 of slightly smaller diameter to form opposed shoulders 4 for the spool ends. The end flanges 4 in this instance have slits 4 therein which permit the flange 4 to spring or yield radially to accommodate the bead 9 on the spool as it is entered into either end of the casing.

In Fig. 7 I have illustrated a still further modified structure wherein one end of the container is made as in Fig. 6 just above described, andthe other end is made with a' flared flange 4 which is slit as at 4 to give it the desired flexibility. The structures of Figs. 6 and 7 readily lend themselves for making them of cellulloid and avoids of turning back both end flanges.

The construction just above described eliminates the necessity of the liner and thus the container may be made at a reduced cost.-

From the above .it is apparent that my improved container which may be made at an extremely lowcost, secures the spool at both ends in an effective manner, but at the same time permits of an easy removal from either end of the container as desired. Again the improved container which is strong and rigid though light in weight, tightly fits the spool to exclude foreign matter from the tape upon the spool so that it remains sanitary.

While in describing the invention, I have referred in detail to the form, construction and arrangement of the parts thereof, the same is to be considered merely as illustrative so that I do not wish to be limited thereto except as may specifically appear in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination, a spool having end heads, a container therefor havinga tubular body with end portions formed to provide intumed beadlike shoulders therein, and a liner in said body engaged with margins of said bead like shoulders to hold them in place and strengthen said container body, said end heads of the spool and said body being so co-related in length and diameter that upon insertion of the spool into either end thereof, said spool end will spring said container end to slip past the same to engage upon and be confined between said shoulders.

2. A spooland protector assembly comprising a cylindrical shell composed of outer and in ner fibrous members, said shell being open at both ends, the terminal portions of said outer member being bent inwardly to form marginal, inwardly-extending ribs around said openings, said inner member being shorter than, and snugly fitting inside of, said outer member, with its ends bearing against said ribs and tending to prevent their uncurling, and a spool having fixed heads of a diameter slightly greater than the internal diameter of said ribs, the latter being capable of yielding temporarily to permit the insertion of the spool into, or its removal from,

the shell. 4

3. In combination, a spool having end heads,

a. container therefor having a tubular body withend portions formed to provide an inturned beadlike shoulder therein, and guide means in said diameter that upon insertion of the spool into body adjacenttosaid bead-like shoulder to guide said container said spool end will spring the the leading head and prevent jammiw thereof container end and slip past the same, the spool, against said shoulders as the spool is removed when fully inserted, being confined by said shoulfrom the container, said end heads of the spool der and firmly held in the container. 30

and said body being so co-reiated in length and J WALTER I". ldUHL'BAtiHl so I v 105 as 7 no Q no 

